This is for Alex...

Obviously I'm about as good as Randy is at keeping up with a blog...sorry about that everyone! Let's catch up shall we?

It's established- we are now a family of four and really beyond that not much new has happened.

Life is one tired blurrrr really. Randy is FINALLY done with wrestling season. I am so proud of him- they had HOPED for two of their boys to go to state and instead they took NINE! And I heard the head coach say that he really thinks the team held up as well as it did because of Randy. Apparently he is an amazing coach, great motivator, etc etc. (We all knew this though didn't we?) And, now that he no longer puts in 70 hour weeks I feel like we can breathe. Of course the season ended right as Rowan started sleeping through the night and I'll admit that there were several nights I was just dying to wake Randy up, hand over Rowan, then go back to bed. Lucky for Randy I didn't.Partially because I was determined not to ruin his sleep life and felt really sorry for him and because I breast feed more often than I give a bottle. Randy had been so tired that I thought his eyes might be permanently red, scarlet even. They were pretty scary for two months because he was so exhausted. I saw the whites of his eyes for the first time today! We thought Vandy was hard... first year teaching,coaching, and a new baby all at the same time are just as tough.

Rowan has evolved into what Mikayla calls "Chubbies." He is LARGE and I will find out exactly how large on Monday. At two weeks he was 9lbs 12 ounces. That isn't an astronomical weight but I can't but help compare him to Mikayla who though normal, was still a tiny dinky thing... and the fact that she didn't weigh 9lbs 12 oz until she was well over two and a half months old. Some people comment that he must be following Randy's footsteps (I don't think that is Roo's favorite comment) but in reality it's mine. I was 9 lbs 10 oz at birth! My poor poor mom!

Rowan is currently cooing, making noise, and had a brief experiment with formula due to Mommy being gone and Rowan having a small freak out... We have been suffering diaper consequences for the past two days (NOT pleasant!) and hope to not have to go that route again. He is much more vocal than Mikayla was. I don't mean he screams and cries but he talks and coos and smiles all the time. He is a happy "Chubbies." But as Randy pointed out: this is about the time we were taking Mickey off of oxygen and really, who would be cooing and smiling when a plastic tube is taped up their nose?

Mickey: WOW what a fireball! She is the sassiest little thing ever. We are talking hands on hips, struts down the runway (also known as Mommy's bedroom) and a tendency to find my make-up or even just drawing markers to decorate her face... She does a pretty good job too. Red marker makes it to the lips, blue to the eyes, and usually a purple accent on the cheeks. And I guess its good someone around here wears makeup because I sure haven't been! It's fun to watch her but sometimes I wonder where it comes from, just WHAT is she learning at preschool with other little girls, and how long will this last? I mean- do girls come pre-programmed prissy? Am I in for castles, princesses,glitter and make-up forever? How am I going to teach her what is fluff and what isn't?

We have been trying to teach her to speak sweetly and use her manners. One day I was reminding her that she shouldn't yell at me. "We need to speak sweetly..." I was interupted with a very frustrated shout as a crying Mikayla informed me, "But Mommy I don't speak sweetly. I speak Spanish!!!!" and then she fell sobbing into my arms. WOW again...

Thankfully she is an amazing big sister- very possessive as a matter of fact. My boss held Rowan while he was in his carrier. As soon as Mikayla realized this her lips started to tremble, tears started to spring, and she finally said, "You have to give him back. He's my mommy's." Then she looked at me "Mommy, we have to go home. And you have to take Rowan." So far she has been ok with grammie, grandpa, poppa, grandma, and aunt meredith touching him but if anyone else attempts she generally starts tearing up, pulling my hand, and letting the person know that Rowan "is not yours, he's mine. You can't have him." Needless to say, the love is there. She still isn't a huge fan of me but at least Randy and Rowan are in good standing! Dang, she's cute!

Randy is snoring as I type this- I think insomnia is creeping in again for me!! Randy is amazing. Let me publicly announce that he is amazing. Amazing. AMAZING! I can't even describe it. I am so excited that he still likes me, loves me, and puts up with me on my bad days! He even went to a mall, bought me not one but TWO complete outfits today! He gently explained that he knows what I look good in, and can tell if I'll like to wear something... instead of just what's comfortable (I always find myself in jeans and a t-shirt no matter what.) New clothes aren't why I love him but I will fully admit that it's a nice perk! Randy is currently catching up with his grading, plotting how to beautify our hugely eroded lawn, and spent this very evening baby sitting so I could chaperone the stake dance. He survived, and Rowan did not have a freak out (his first was because he apparently face planted right onto Randy's collar bone and really bunked his nose.)

Me? hmmm. I enjoyed a week with my parents who babied me, cleaned my house, bought me a shelf for my garage, baby sat so we could go to the temple, and painted. So NICE. I've been reading, and drumming up the energy to enter the real world of organized mommies with schedules and daily activities for the kids. I'm not doing so hot yet. Let's face it- I love to sleep- but I am getting much better. I have been napless for a few weeks now! I also really like my new calling with the Young Women in our new ward. They are so amazing- I don't think I was ever that sweet. Really. I am thorougly impressed with their love for each other, the gospel, and families... So GREAT!